Epsom Salts Baths are important and most beneficial and they should be taken regularly by all who suffer from rheumatism or arthritis.

Crude Epsom Salts can be purchased in 7 lb bags relatively cheaply.

Between 1 and 2 lbs of Epson Salts should be dissolved in a bath half filled with hot water and the patient should soak in this for a bout ten minutes. The temperature of the water should be controlled to suit each patient. During this ten minutes the body should be constantly rubbed all over with a skin brush or loofah. This removes the waste matter which exudes through the skin and unless frequent rubbing is continued the pores of the skin become clogged with the first waste matter and no more can be drawn out.

After ten minutes the water and deposits should be emptied away and replaced with clean warm water with which the body should be rubbed down. A pure soap may be used if desired.

It is a good thing to have this bath and then get into bed, and if possible in between flannelette sheets; otherwise the patient should be rolled in a thin blanket.

Patients suffering from heart conditions or high blood pressure, etc., should not take a full Epsom salts bath but they can make used of compresses.

A piece of pure linen (white) should be dipped into a bowl of cold water containing a handful of Epsom Salts. This should be wrung out and applied to the affected part and immediately covered snugly with a warm woolen scarf, and fastened in place. This should be left on all night. The action of the warm wool should heat up the area at once and this stimulates circulation through the joint, blood and lymph. If the area does not begin to feel warm soon after the woolen covering has been fixed, remove the linen at once and wash the surface in warm water, otherwise a chill will follow.

The linen should be washed, boiled and dried ready for the next compress.

If the trouble occurs in the elbows, arms, legs or knees, the compress would be beneficial applied to the affected part twice a week, in addition to he Epsom Salt bath.

Foot baths also, should be considered. The patient should sit with feet in a bowl of hot water to which has been added 4 oz of Epsom Salts. The feet should be rubbed with a loofah or skin brush at intervals as poisons will be drawn out through the feet. A kettle of hot water should be at hand in order that the temperature of the water may be kept up. After about 15 minutes the feet should be washed in warm water and a little vegetable oil massaged into the skin. The patient should stay in a warm temperature or get into a warm bed after this foot bath as very often the body sweats from the heat of the water.